The Issues

Neighborhoods

Bellevue is comprised of many different neighborhoods that are healthy and strong. Our neighborhoods, our schools, and our job base are reasons people move to Bellevue and stay. Protecting the integrity of our neighborhoods is vital to the City's continued success.

Funding City Investments in Neighborhoods

Jennifer was instrumental in securing city funding for many important neighborhood projects, including A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise. ~ Aldo Leopold, American Ecologist (1887-1948) retention of the popular Neighborhood Enhancement Program; full funding of the long-awaited Phase I of the West Lake Sammamish Parkway project; funding the sidewalk/bicycle lane project on 108th so that children have a safe walk route to Enatai Elementary; funding the final segment of the 145th sidewalk/bicycle project near Bellevue College; and funding the "fix" of the 120th and NE 8th intersection to straighten that intersection and make the NE 4th extension and 120th expansion more functional while avoiding traffic diversion into the Wilburton neighborhood. Her leadership on these issues is making Bellevue neighborhoods stronger.

Concentrating Growth in the Downtown and Bel-Red

Bellevue is required to plan for population growth by identifying the locations where growth can occur. Jennifer will keep growth and added density where it belongs: Downtown and in the Bel-Red corridor. This keeps the added density away from single family neighborhoods thus securing neighborhood stability as the city grows.

Keeping Public Safety & Emergency Services Funded to Protect our Citizens

Bellevue has excellent Fire and Police service. We must keep it that way. Public Safety is one of the most important obligations of local government. Jennifer recognizes this and has been an advocate for maintaining our high level of service for public safety which is why she's been endorsed by the Bellevue Fire Fighters. She successfully worked to keep the 24-hour aid car near Downtown funded, added back two police officer positions that were scheduled for deletion, and started planning for the future by setting money aside for a future Downtown Fire Station. The future Downtown Station will not only protect Downtown and Bel-Red, but will also protect the surrounding neighborhoods that are left vulnerable when police and fire resources that would otherwise be dedicated to those neighborhoods are busy servicing Downtown and Bel-Red.

Transportation

As Bellevue and the region have grown, our transportation needs have become more urgent. It is essential that we keep our people and goods moving. This means improving roads; increasing transit options; increasing pedestrian safety; continuing to add bicycle lanes; and ensuring that the placement and design of the new Eastlink light rail line works for both Bellevue and the region.

Roads

We must keep moving forward with road improvements to ease congestion and improve access in and around Bellevue. In addition, we need to minimize cut-through traffic in single family neighborhoods for the safety of Bellevue residents. Jennifer has lead on these issues, including supporting the extension of NE 4th Street and 120th Avenue which are vital for mobility between the Downtown, Wilburton and Bel-Red.

Transit

As Bellevue grows and our job base expands, we must increase transit service in and around the Eastside to provide options for our residents and workers. Having a variety of mobility options is even more important as our population ages. Jennifer wants our oldest residents to have the ability to get where they need to go, efficiently and effectively. Jennifer is working to ensure that Bellevue will get more transit service in the future.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Lanes

Bellevue recently updated its Pedestrian/Bicyclists Plan. Funding these improvements as we move forward are an important part of improving mobility in our region. In 2010, Jennifer's leadership ensured funding of some of these most important projects.

Light Rail

Eastlink light rail is coming to Bellevue and will help shape the face of the City for the next century. This is a 100-year project that must be "built right the first time." This means siting the Eastlink line sensitively for neighborhoods and making sure that the route chosen will be fast, safe, efficient, and accessible. Jennifer has brought both passion and knowledge to this project and she continues to support excellence along the alignment in all parts of Bellevue. Her past experience as the co-chair of the Bellevue Light Rail Best Practices Committee has provided a level of knowledge that has served the citizens well.

Jobs

Bellevue has evolved into a major employment center in the region. We have more workers in Bellevue than we have residents. This economic growth relies on smart planning policies and low taxes to bring in employers and new jobs. Having the policies in place to strengthen Bellevue's role as an economic leader while retaining and enhancing Bellevue's prosperity is one of Jennifer's top priorities and a major key to keeping Bellevue an integral part of the Puget Sound's world class economy. These policies are:

Keeping taxes low

Our low tax rates are one reason that both people and businesses move into Bellevue and stay. Since Jennifer's election to Council, no property tax increases have been enacted. The recent biennial budget "reset" government spending to a sustainable level while maintaining essential services and functions that are so important to our quality of life. By keeping the City's budgets "within our means" and keeping taxes low, Bellevue will remain competitive and ready to prosper as the country regains economic strength.

Promoting smart economic growth

By planning for growth and providing incentives for that growth, Bellevue will give employers the desire to locate here and to grow as Bellevue grows. The planning that has occurred and will continue to evolve for Downtown and Bel-Red will create such growth. Jennifer is actively involved in the planning for the I-90/Eastgate corridor which holds one-quarter of all jobs in Bellevue. She will continue to evaluate and polish our policies and plans to encourage the right growth for Bellevue.

Keeping Bellevue a good place to do business

By keeping our taxes low, promoting smart economic growth and working to solve transportation challenges, Jennifer is working to keep Bellevue a great place to do business. This in turn will bring in jobs and the tax revenue we need to keep Bellevue as wonderful for our children and grandchildren as it is today.